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Archived News from May 2012

PAUL COX, KIDDERMINSTER ASSISTANT REACTION
1st May 2012 13:06


The location of the post match interviews, right outside the loos


because the main arena had to be cleared to allow the air ambulance to land



audio interviews
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17795294

VIEWS FROM THE TRAINING GROUND
Kidderminster assistant manager Gary Whild told BBC Hereford & Worcester:

"Losing is a disappointment but overall, across the whole season, to finish sixth again is a fantastic achievement.

"You only have to look at the clubs in the play-offs, they're massive clubs. For us to be taking them all the way, with our resources, the gaffer has done an absolutely fantastic job.

"It's great to come as far as we have with a young bunch of players who'll be a lot better for the experience they've had this season."

Mansfield Town manager Paul Cox told BBC Radio Nottingham:

"Anybody that's picked to put a Mansfield Town shirt on now is expected to have a winning mentality.

"We want a squad of 22 players who're all chomping at the bit to get in the first 11 and nobody in the first 11 can rest on their laurells.

"The lads out there today were a different level, even right at the end where they could of took their foot off the pedal we kept going, it's just a tremendous group to work with and manage."

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Stags boss Paul Cox looks ahead to Conference Play-Off semi with York City
chad.co.uk

MANSFIELD Town learned on Saturday it will be York City who they must overcome in a two-legged semi-final to reach the Wembley play-off final.

http://www.chad.co.uk/sport/football/mansfield-town-fc/stags-boss-paul-cox-looks-ahead-to-conference-play-off-semi-with-york-city-1-4497063

Stags ended their season with a 3-0 win at Kidderminster while York beat Forest Green to finish fourth.

But the day was marred by Kidderminster player Anthony Malbon having to be flown to hospital by air ambulance after being flattened by Louis Briscoe.

The player stayed down, appearing unconcious, and left the field wearing a neck brace and oxygen mask.

Stags boss Paul Cox said: “We now know it's York and we can't promise anything in the play-offs as there are four sides who all think they are going to win them.

“But if we show the same mindset, desire and hunger we showed today we will give anyone a game. Sometimes then it's down to Lady Luck.

“I made seven changes today and one or two of them may be a bit disappointed if they don't play on Wednesday as there were some great performances right through the side. It's a nice headache to have.

“We knew it would be tough here and that was a great result. Despite all the changes I told them I still expected a winning mentality and they were brilliant this afternoon.

“The hunger they all showed was immense and sometimes you need to pat them on the back. I said we wouldn't come here and roll over.”

On the injured Malbon, he added: “We hope everything is okay with him, especially with what's happened of late with players collapsing on the pitch. We hope he makes a speedy recovery.”

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Stags have a winning mentality says boss Paul Cox
Nottingham Post

STAGS manager Paul Cox believes his side now has the winning mentality throughout the club as they head into the end-of-season play-offs.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/story-15959227-detail/story.html

Mansfield beat Kidderminster 3-0 on Saturday, despite making seven changes to the starting line-up, with all the goals coming after their hosts were reduced to ten men in the 48th minute following Lee Vaughan's sending off for an elbow on Matt Rhead.

The ruthless Stags put their opponents to the sword and will now face York on Wednesday night in the first leg of their play-off semi-final, the return leg on Bank Holiday Monday at the One Call Stadium.

The winner will meet Wrexham or Luton Town at Wembley on Sunday May 20 but Cox is confident his side now has the right mental attitude to deal with the play-offs, with a place in the Football League at stake.

He said: "I said before we went out that I wanted this to be a winning club with a winning mentality. There were a lot of changes with a lot of people who had not played much football and I thought the performance and the shift they put in was excellent.

"The desire and the hunger pleased me. No matter who I put out there, they all seem to know their roles and they know what is expected of them. It has been a really good day.

"The hunger was immense and throughout this season they have been out of this world in terms of their attitude and desire. We knew it would be tough and the lads gave a great performance."

Lee Stevenson started his second game in a row, after being brought in from the wilderness, and was outstanding as he scored one and set up another.

Cox admitted a few have forced their way into the play-off reckoning, adding: "In the first half, Lee had a couple of chances where had he had a couple more games under his belt, he would have tucked them away. He played off the big man brilliantly and he did what he does best, he sticks the ball in the back of the net.

"I am pleased with them all. We are trying to instil that belief and mentality into the lads and they seem to be taking it on board. "

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Stags show their strength in depth
Nottingham Post

MANSFIELD Town boss Paul Cox believes his squad has demonstrated it has the strength in depth to win promotion via the play-offs.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/story-15959226-detail/story.html

The Stags boss admits luck will be needed as well as quality when they take on York City in a two-legged semi-final, the first match away on Wednesday.

But he feels Saturday's impressive 3-0 win in their final league match at Kidderminster – who finished sixth in the Blue Square Bet Premier – despite making seven changes, proves they are a force to be reckoned with.

That made it 13 wins, one draw and just one defeat in their last 15 matches as Mansfield powered to third place.

And Cox said: "What pleased me most is that we brought individuals into the side, some who had not played for a while, and it did not look like the team had been weakened.

"I said right from the start that the quality and desire of the squad is going to be important and that was evident in this game.

"A lot of those players could have come in, for one reason or another, and strolled through it but we showed desire and beat what is a very good side.

"We had to work extremely hard and they lads deserve all the accolades they get.

"However, I do not want to sound like Victor Meldrew but we have achieved nothing yet.

"The hard work starts on Wednesday and we will go into it and give it our best shot."

Lee Stevenson, Louis Briscoe and Matt Green – his 30th of the season – got the goals, but the game was marred by a serious injury to Kidderminster's Anthony Malbon.

He was injured in a collision with Briscoe in the 64th minute, taken off on a stretcher after lengthy treatment in a neck brace and given oxygen.

He was airlifted to hospital 30 minutes after the match ended and was given the all-clear later that night.

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Harriers striker set to be discharged from hospital
worcesternews.co.uk

Harriers striker Anthony Malbon looks set to be released from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital after sustaining injury against Mansfield today.

http://www.worcesternews.co.uk/sport/khfc/news/9677173.Harriers_striker_set_to_be_discharged_from_hospital/r/?ref=rss

The striker was airlifted to hospital after being fouled by Mansfield winger Louis Briscoe.

He needed nine minutes of treatment for a blow to the head before being stretchered off.

The game was cut short in injury time and fans were asked to leave the ground because of safety concerns as the air ambulance prepared to land on the Aggborough pitch.

After being assessed and scanned in Birmingham, it looks as though the 20-year-old has been given the all-clear.

Club doctor Phil Earl praised the efforts of Harriers physio Gavin Crowe for his efforts to treat Malbon during the game.

"I think it looks a lot worse than it actually is - it is all very precautionary.

"He suffered a significant blow to his head and his neck and was unconscious for a couple of minutes. But we got him off the pitch very quickly and got him stabilised.

"He came round but is still suffering from quite an amount of pain in his neck and from a splitting headache.

"We thought the best thing was to get him off to hospital and the paramedics' decision was that he should be transported by air ambulance to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham where I am sure he will be given the best of care."

After the match, fans were let back in so players could perform a shortened lap of honour. Malbon was voted away fans player of the season, despite joining in January. His award was accepted by manager Steve Burr.

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